Lapithos
|
Lapithos |
|
|---|---|
A general view of Lapithos
|
|
 Lapithos
|
|
| Coordinates: 35°20′12″N 33°10′27″E / 35.33667°N 33.17417°ECoordinates: 35°20′12″N 33°10′27″E / 35.33667°N 33.17417°E | |
| Country |
 Cyprus
|
| • District | Kyrenia District |
| Country (controlled by) |
 Northern Cyprus
|
| • District | Girne District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Fuat Namsoy |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 7,839 |
| Time zone | FET (UTC+3) |
| Climate | Csa |
| Website |
Cypriot municipality (in exile) Turkish-Cypriot municipality |
Lapithos or Lapethos (Greek: Λάπηθος;Turkish: Lapta) is a town in Cyprus. De facto, it is under the control of Northern Cyprus.
According to Strabo, the settlement was founded by Spartans. In Assyrian inscriptions, Lapithos is mentioned as one of the eleven Cypriot kingdoms. During the Persian rule, Lapithos was settled by Phoenicians. The last independent king Praxippos was subdued by Ptolemy I in 312 BC.
Lambousa is the name currently used for the ancient Roman town on the coast about 3 kilometres (2 miles) north of the current Lapta.
Strabo wrote that Lapethos is a 'construction of the Laconians and of Praxandros'. The philosopher Alexander of Ephesus called it "Imeroessa", meaning "attractive" and "passion-arousing".
Lapithos is usually referred in archaeological literature as a Laconian colony built after the Trojan War, by Praxandros, its first king. However, findings from excavations i.e. pots and pottery wheels date back its existence as early as 3000 BC. According to Diodoros of Sicily, who wrote in the 4th century BC, Lapithos was one of the nine kingdoms of Cyprus.
Peisistratos, king of Lapithos, with his flotilla, together with Nicocreon of Salamis and Stasanor of Curion, came to the aid of Alexander the Great, helping him to capture Tyre in Phoenicia. For this reason Alexander, the victorious army commander, declared Cyprus free from the Persians. The last king of Lapethos was Praxippos.
...
Wikipedia